LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Premier statements offensive

Premier Kinew’s statements in the legislature on Oct. 1 were disgraceful. They are as follows:

“Go tell the people who are gonna gather here this afternoon that: ‘you should not be protesting a Minister of the Crown’s right to serve the people of Manitoba.’ And I would say to the goofballs out front: ‘If you have an issue, you have an issue with me. I am the one who decided to keep this Minister at the Cabinet table. I would invite the member opposite to show some courtesy.’”

These were in response to Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan’s comments saying, ‘(Asking tough questions) [is] not wrong. That’s not too soon. It’s our job in opposition to ask tough questions.”

It should go without saying that the recent attacks on Minister Nahanni Fontaine’s office are disgusting acts of political violence and should be condemned as such. The vandals should be charged, arrested, tried by a jury of their peers, and made to serve out sentences congruent with the charges of which they are convicted. This behaviour should have no place in Canada. However, it seems this kind of condemnation of political violence is only afforded to one’s own political allies these days. This has to change.

My heart goes out to Minister Fontaine. I am truly horrified at the violent attempts at intimidation that have occurred at her office in West Kildonan. At the same time and in the same manner, I was horrified when she posted vile, false accusations against Charlie Kirk that made light of and bordered on justifying the acts of his assassin. I was, additionally, disappointed when no real apology was issued, and when the Premier’s response to the scandal amounted to: ‘I’m in charge; leave her be.’

The premier’s comments in the legislature don’t only ring hollow, they sound narcissistic. Asking the member opposite to show some courtesy after Premier Kinew did nothing to show Conservatives courtesy by having some cabinet discipline is ludicrous. I would not go as far as some have, saying Minister Fontaine should be removed from her cabinet seat, but I would ask for a proper apology as part of a broadcast interview with local media.

Calling disappointed Manitobans ‘goofballs’ because they dared protest about something they believe the government did wrong is part of the problem. The majority of conservative Manitobans aren’t smashing up Minister Fontaine’s office. In fact, I’d venture to say the majority of them would condemn these acts of political violence and vandalism. However, the premier has played his hand, and he isn’t willing to do the same in any meaningful way.

Why shouldn’t they be protesting, Premier Kinew? No matter how silly or how pointless, do they not have the right? What is the thrust behind this frightening ‘shouldn’t?’ Do you mean to say it is immoral for them to do so? Do you mean to say it is illegal for them to do so? Or do you mean to say you disapprove of their peaceful protesting because it threatens to hold you accountable for the actions of your Cabinet members you so ardently defend? Premier Kinew, if they shouldn’t be protesting, what should they be doing? Lying down and taking the abuse coming from your Cabinet? Make no mistake: Minister Fontaine’s egregious and slanderous allegations about Charlie Kirk don’t just apply to him. They apply to every common sense conservative, including those in Manitoba.

So, to Premier Kinew, you won’t read this, but, hopefully, others will. You have lost my vote. And you do have a problem with me. I wasn’t present at the protest outside the legislative building, and I don’t agree with their stated goals, but I’m proud to stand beside the peaceful, respectful Manitobans voicing their disappointment in decent and well-behaved ways.

Signed, a goofball.